Two Free methods to convert NSF files into PST files

Two major email clients prevalent in organizations are IBM/Lotus Notes and MS Outlook. However, under certain situations, many users need to switch their email client to Outlook from Lotus Notes. But accessing NSF file directly in Outlook is not possible. Let us go through the necessities, and the procedure one has to follow to access their NSF emails in MS Outlook.

What are the reasons for IBM Notes to MS Outlook migration?

Migration of email data from Lotus Notes to Outlook is attributed to various reasons.

Outlook is cost-effective when compared to Lotus Notes.

Outlook allows users to configure multiple accounts simultaneously.

Lotus Notes is less user-friendly than MS Outlook. Outlook is suitable for the novice user as well as technically sound users. Novice users find it difficult to work with Lotus Notes.

Job switch is another reason as the new working place may have Outlook as email client.

Why NSF to PST Conversion?

While there are enough reasons for Notes users to switch to Outlook, NSF files cannot be accessed directly in Outlook as they use different file formats to save their mailbox data (Lotus Notes uses NSF file format while Outlook uses PST file format).

To access the whole email data, first NSF files have to be converted into PST files. There are primarily two methods to convert NSF files into PST files – manual method and third-party tool i.e. Kernel for Lotus Notes to Outlook.

Manual Method to Convert NSF files into PST files

It is a free NSF to PST conversion method. It is recommended to have a backup copy of original NSF file before performing the manual conversion, as the file can get damaged during the conversion process. The manual method to convert NSF files into PST files is performed in two stages.

Step II: Import CSV file into Outlook

Import the Intermediate CSV file into MS Outlook by following the steps:

Launch MS Outlook program.

On the File menu, click Open & Export, and then click Import/Export.

An Import and Export Wizard dialogue box pops up. Select Import from another program or file from the options. Click Next.

Select Comma Separated Values as file type and click Next.

Click Browse and select the path for CSV file created earlier using the Export command of Lotus Notes. You can select the options according to your need.

Select the Outlook folder where you want to save your exported data and click Next.

Select the given checkbox in the Import a file dialogue box and click Finish. You can also change your destination or map custom fields by clicking on the same name options.

The data from the “CSV file” would be imported to “MS Outlook.”

Challenges in manual NSF to PST conversion

The free NSF to PST conversion method is helpful in some situations, but it has many limitations too. Some of them are:

Complicated and tedious method for a novice user

Time-consuming and fails to migrate entire data

If not handled correctly, might cause corruption in the NSF file

Selective conversion is not possible

Converts only one NSF file at a time, making the process lengthy and monotonous

Using a Professional Solution for NST to PST Conversion

Kernel for Lotus Notes to Outlook is a powerful NST to PST conversion tool. This third-party tool saves NSF files (from IBM/Lotus Notes and Domino Server) in Outlook PST or Exchange Server directly. It has many advantages over free NSF to PST tool. It has the facility for saving NSF file in multiple PST files. The user can also migrate specific data using advanced filters designed in the tool.

Users can migrate their files or database using two modes.

Standard Mode

Advanced Mode

NSF to PST Conversion in Standard Mode

Launch the tool and select Standard Mode for conversion of NSF files to PST files. To add NSF files for conversion, click Add File(s). You can select multiple files for the conversion. The option for splitting your converted PST files into different sizes is also available. You can have the full preview of the selected email by clicking on the Preview button. After viewing, click on Export to convert your file.

The NSF to PST tool provides you two saving options. You can either save your files in PST format or directly on Exchange Server. You can also define the Saving Location and Date Range. And emails can be saved in different formats like TEXT, HTML, or RTF according to your requirements.

Launch NSF to PST tool and select the Advanced mode. You can browse and select the CSV file by clicking the Browse CSV file for entry button. You can define Saving Location and Date Range in this mode too. You can also split your converted PST file into different sizes. After applying the desired filters, click Export.

Now the file gets converted into PST format. You can view them now in MS Outlook application.

Kernel for Lotus Notes to Outlook migration is a comprehensive tool that converts NSF files into PST files or saves to Exchange Server. This is the best alternative to the free NSF to PST converter. The tool supports all the versions of Exchange, Outlook, and Notes including the latest versions. It can be installed on Windows 10 as well.

Microsoft Transporter Suite supports Exchange 2007 Server only. So to migrate to the latest versions of Exchange, you need professional tools now. Hope Microsoft comes up with a new version of Microsoft Transporter Suite for the latest versions of Exchange!

IBM Notes is very expensive, but Outlook is less expensive as it is available with MS Office. Also, Notes has a complex user interface and lack of some essential features. But Outlook offers superior GUI with many advanced messaging features

User cannot access NSF files directly in Outlook because Outlook uses PST files to store user mailbox data and Outlook does not support NSF files. To access data in Outlook, NSF to PST conversion is the only way.

Being a professional, I already had knowledge about the manual process for NSF to PST migration. The method is good but fails to migrate multiple NSF files and includes risk of data loss/corruption. The NSF to PST converter served all my migration requirements. Thanks to the author, I came to know about this tool!